Professional Objectives
- To uncover, share and promote opportunities for individual citizens to both participate in their communities and to realize meaningful results by doing so
- To leverage diverse experiences as an educator, organizer and government employee to realize technology driven civic possibilities
- To connect with civic leaders and motivated citizens across the country creating opportunities to work together and make good ideas happen
Current Projects
Politicolor redesign as a channel for civic storytelling focused on three themes of awe, discovery and connectedness.
Program Host Planning Committee, Conversation Corps, a program initiated by the City of Austin to engage citizens in discussion and deliberation regarding questions that will impact local policies of the city and its partners, Austin Independent School District and Cap Metro.
Professional Development for Civic Communicators, a two part presentation combining design thinking and political thought designed for the 2015 National Academy for Civics and Government.
Professional Experience
Visit my Linked In profile for more information on the positions and institutions referred to below.
DESIGNING LEARNING
National Academy for Civics and Government presented by the Center for Civic Education and the National Endowment for the Humanities
Center for the Constitution at James Madison's Montpelier
Region XIII Education Service Center, Educator Preparation Program
Wester Middle School, Frisco Independent School District
Clark Middle School, Frisco Independent School District
Blalack Middle School, Carrolton-Farmers Branch Independent School District
IMPLEMENTING BEST PRACTICES
Region XIII Education Service Center, Educator Certification Program
State Board for Educator Certification / Texas Education Agency, Division of Educator Standards
VOLUNTEERING FOR LOCAL CAUSES
ATX Hack 4 Change (Project Champion)
Conversation Corps, City of Austin (Volunteer Host)
Texas Book Festival 2014 (Volunteer)
Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (Regular Volunteer)
Texas VegFest 2013 (Volunteer Coordinator)
Presidential Primary Campaign 2008 (Precinct Coordinator)
Senate Campaign 2006 (Volunteer Coordinator)
Countywide Judicial Campaign 2004 (Campaign Manager)
Presidential Primary Campaign 2004 (Grassroots Volunteer Coordinator)
Continuing to Learn More
Ongoing Professional Development
- Reimagining Cities 2015 presented by LBJ School of Public Affairs (September 9, 2015)
- Imagine Austin Book Club (November 2014 - present)
- Austin Forum on Technology and Society (Summer 2015)
- City Summit presented by Austin Monitor, KUT News 90.5 and LBJ School of Public Affairs (December 5, 2014)
- Texas Conference on Civic Life presented by the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life at the University of Texas (November 9, 2013)
Formal Education and Certifications:
PhD, University of Houston, Political Science
Dissertation: A Madisonian Framework for Civic Involvement
Abstract: Popular government in the United States requires an American citizenry capable of challenging the difficult questions of a self-governing people. The Madisonian Framework for Civic Involvement represents an understanding of the citizen’s role as complex and varied as the proposition of popular government itself. The Framework traces three themes (interaction, input and integration) that recur in James Madison’s writing as a political thinker and his work as a political actor.
Teaching Interests: American Political Thought, Political Theory, Political Participation
MA, University of Houston, Political Science
BA, University of Texas at Dallas, Historical Studies and Secondary Education
[Visit my Linked In profile for more information on the positions and institutions referred to above.]